Lokah – Chapter 1: Chandra Review — A Mythic, Female-Led Superhero Leap for Malayalam Cinema
There’s a fresh breeze blowing through Indian cinema — one that carries myth, scale and a female superhero at its heart. Lokah – Chapter 1: Chandra, directed by Dominic Arun and starring Kalyani Priyadarshan, steps confidently into this space. As Malayalam cinema’s first big-budget female-led superhero film, it sets out to build a universe, not just tell a single story. In this review I’ll walk you through what works, what doesn’t, and why this film matters — especially in the context of regional Indian cinema aiming for global ambition. Synopsis (Spoiler-free) Chandra (Kalyani Priyadarshan) is a young woman whose life takes a dramatic turn when she discovers extraordinary powers and an ancestral legacy. She’s drawn into a web of ancient mythology, urban corruption, and a city that becomes as much a character as she is. When a ruthless officer and systemic injustice emerge, Chandra must embrace her destiny and fight to reclaim balance. What Works ✅ 1. Bold World-Buildin...